Читать книгу Radical Welcome - Stephanie Spellers - Страница 22

God is changing things so that they finally reflect

the dream of God. It will be new to us, but it is merely

the fulfillment of what God intended all along.

THE RIGHT REVEREND MICHAEL CURRY,

EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NORTH CAROLINA

Life would be so much easier—and church more comfortable—if we didn’t answer the call to become radically welcoming. Why would a community go in search of transformation and dissonance, when most of us instinctively seek institutions to find stability and shelter from the storm? Couldn’t we trust that Sunday morning is destined to remain the most segregated hour in American life, that certain groups have mutually agreed not to share spiritual relationship, and leave it at that? Why rock the boat? Why cross boundaries? Why risk welcoming?

Earl Kooperkamp answers that question as well as anyone I’ve met. “Radical hospitality is one of the most important spiritual gifts,” said Kooperkamp, who serves as rector of St. Maiy’s Episcopal Church in West Harlem, New York. “Look at Abraham and his three angelic visitors in Genesis. Look at Hebrews, where they speak of entertaining angels unawares. Look at Jesus’ open table fellowship. That’s my vision for what the church should be.” Having warmed to his topic, the community organizer-turned-priest continued, “Jesus reaches out and bids us to do the same: to open our hearts and hands to those around us, to embrace the abundant life that God graciously offers to all.”

Why are congregations like St. Mary’s becoming radically welcoming? Why should any of us risk transformation? Quite simply because God did it first.